Buenos Aires (Argentina) (AFP) - Left-footed, with unmatched talent and who has become an absolute leader over the years, Lionel Messi leaves the Argentine team as captain and protagonist of the greatest joys in the history of the Albiceleste.

First modification: 08/31/2026 - 19:49

At 39 years old, the Ten closed this Monday a 21-season relationship with the national team marked by painful defeats, a resignation, a triumphant return, a late consecration... and an eternal romance.

"There is little left and stages are closing and this is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved and I will always love being in the National Team. I have emptied myself, I no longer have more to give and in addition there are very big guys coming back who deserve to be there," the star wrote on Instagram.

The last episode was the final of the 2026 World Cup on July 19, with a narrow defeat against Spain (1-0) that left him on the verge of celebrating a second star, four years after his happiest hour: the World Cup in Qatar 2022.

Messi leaves an immeasurable legacy for Argentina, with numbers that seem almost impossible to surpass, having long become the player with the most appearances for the Albiceleste (207).

He also holds the record for top scorer, with 125 goals, plus the record for assists (68) and the most matches played in World Cups (34).

At this point, Messi can remember with different eyes that inauspicious baptism in 2005, when coach José Pekerman made him debut in a friendly against Hungary. The left-hander lasted less than a minute on the field, sent off by the German referee after slapping an opponent.

Legacy for history

Born in Rosario, about 300 km northwest of Buenos Aires, Messi settled in Miami in 2023 with Antonela Roccuzzo, his lifelong partner, and their three children to play for Inter Miami of the MLS.

He has a contract until 2028 with the Florida club, a competitor in a minor league that allowed him to save strength and energy to give his all for his country after conquering Europe with FC Barcelona (2004-21).

His legacy marks a definitive commitment to Argentina, a choice he made since he was little and maintained even when, already living in Barcelona, ​​he was able to play for Spain but preferred to wait for the call of the country where he was born.

After more than two decades in the light blue and white shirt, Messi left unforgettable matches, from his hat tricks against Brazil in 2012 and against Ecuador in the Russia 2018 qualifiers, to the Qatar 2022 final against France, in which he scored two goals and led Argentina to its third world title.

His record with Argentina includes that World Cup, the Albiceleste's first world title in 36 years since Diego Maradona's epic in Mexico 1986, in addition to the 2021 and 2024 Copa América, the 2008 Beijing Olympic gold and the 2022 Finalissima.

The 2021 Copa América, the first title for the absolute team in almost three decades, was against Brazil in the Maracaná itself.

But the numbers seem like little next to the displays of talent he provided in the final stretch of his amazing career, when he had the luxury of spending long stretches walking on the grass and still being decisive.

The break of 2016

An image to remember? When he eluded four Englishmen in the North American 2026 semi-final, including Harry Kane, before being knocked down.

"What else does he have to do to be considered the best in history?" asked the Argentine coach, Lionel Scaloni.

Messi's romance with the World Cups, however, began with heartbreak: early eliminations in 2006, 2010 and 2018, and the final loss to Germany in Brazil 2014.

The two Copa América finals lost to Chile also hurt, especially the one in 2016, when he bitterly announced a retirement that was temporary for the fortunes of football: "That's it, the national team is over for me."

But he returned two months later to try to conquer a people who, melted by the memory of Maradona, felt him distant for years and criticized him relentlessly.

Since then it has been transformed. He went from being a decisive but silent man, to assuming the captain's ribbon and the leadership of some albicelestes who surrounded him and let him know that he was their number one.

Scaloni gave the star what others did not: a group of soldiers willing to die for their general. A general who in North America was vulnerable, with easy tears and smiles, in the midst of health problems of his father, Jorge, his representative and staff who died three weeks ago.

© 2026 AFP

The content you requested does not exist or is no longer available.